New cattle marbling, growth test debuting next year

Oct. 25, 2011
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by Meat&Poultry Staff

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WOOSTER, Ohio – Set to debut in early 2012, a new DNA test for marbling and post-weaning growth will help cattle producers better hit the high-quality beef target. The tool will be made available under a development agreement between Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) and Pfizer Animal Genetics.

Exclusive marketing rights are reserved for Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB). AGI and CAB are subsidiaries of the American Angus Association.

Bill Bowman, AGI president, said the test is being designed for use on high-percentage, commercial Angus cattle sired by registered bulls. “It should provide a valuable tool to increase the precision of selection decisions at the ranch, as well as differentiating value for the feedlot,” he added.

Test results will take the form of an index, which is being finalized in the fall of 2011, said Mark McCully, CAB assistant vice president for supply.

"There have been lots of advancements in the purebred cattle industry utilizing DNA for selection,” Bowman said. “But this will be the first test at a price point that is economically feasible for commercial cattlemen. The American Angus Association, its subsidiaries and Pfizer Animal Genetics are excited to partner on bringing this technology to market for the users of Angus genetics.”

Developing this product is another example of the strategic partnership between the companies, said Scott Bormann, business director, Pfizer Animal Genetics. “We appreciate the American Angus Association and its affiliates continuing to foster innovation in the field of genetic evaluation,” he said. “The forward-thinking collaboration should result in a DNA test that helps continue to advance genomic use and application, the Angus breed, as well as meet consumer demand for high-quality beef.”

This is going to allow for more accurate replacement heifer selection and targeted management in feeding Angus cattle, McCully said. “With demand for high-quality beef at an all-time high, commercial cattlemen will soon gain a greater ability to identify those cattle most able to access premiums in that marketplace," he concluded.

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